Good Base for Southern Spain
 

Hi folks. Granada, Cordoba, Seville, Ronda, Torremolinos, Gibraltar... All within more or less reasonable striking distance of each other. Rather than try to stay in all 6 places, is there one place (or two) that anyone would suggest as being a standout base or bases, enabling the others to be done as day trips? When staying in a place we enjoy lots of walking, some historic sights, and at night we enjoy cheerful and reasonably-priced places for a drink and dining. Thanks for any ideas.

Good Base for Southern Spain
 

Forgot to include Malaga in my above list. Other suggestions are welcome too, if anyone thinks I've missed somewhere that I shouldn't miss.

Seville... great place to stay.

Sevilla would, I think, be the most logical location if you insist on a single base -- BUT I wouldn't recommend a single base. While it depends on your interests, I would note that you really need 2 nights in Granada just for the Alhambra, and another night for it's other highlights. And while many people visit Cordoba as a day trip from Sevilla, I'm not alone in being very glad to have given it a night, or better, two. Ronda is also a bit far for a day trip, but Ronda, Torremolinos, Gibraltar, and Malaga are not in the same league as the gems of Andalusia (namely, Sevilla, Granada, and Cordoba).

You might want to read some of the MANY planning threads on this forum about Andalusia....

Agree totally with KJA. Only location on that list worthy of a look-see would maybe be Ronda. Maybe also take a look at Arcos de la Frontera as a possible place to visit. Seem to recall using it as a base for Pueblos Blancos (Zahara et al).
Good luck!
I am done. The end.

I agree with KJA about not using a single base in Andalusia. It really does not work. Seville, Cordoba, and Granada all deserve your time and focus. Seville at least 3 or 4 nights; minimum of 2 nights in Granada to properly see the Alhambra and perhaps time for the cathedral. At least 1 or 2 nights in Cordoba. I think people who visit Cordoba as a day trip are doing it a great injustice. You could visit Malaga as a day trip from Granada, but we loved Malaga and enjoyed our 2 nights there.

Thanks everyone. Very helpful to get your opinions. Sounds like that whole area deserves a week or more at least. Cheers...

IMO, Andalusia easily merits 10 to 12 days, just to see the highlights.

It suddenly struck me - no-one commented on Gibraltar! Not worth a night? It's further away from the others of course. Not good enough to justify the extra driving? How does the following itinerary sound? - Granada 2 nights, Cordoba 1 night, Malaga 1 night (or Ronda 1 night, via Malaga on way), Seville 3 nights. After Seville, Lisbon. Anywhere between Seville and Lisbon (e.g. Merida) worth an overnight stop? Thanks...

That itinerary could work for you, but have you made sure you will have time for what you want to see and do in these places? As a starting point, I usually recommend at least 1 more night in each of the key Andalusia destinations, so 4 nights in Sevilla, 3 in Granada (2 is really ONLY enough for the Alhambra), 2 or 3 in Cordoba, and then a bit more for the secondary destinations -- maybe 2 nights for Malaga, maybe a night for Ronda or Jerez....

I haven't been to Gibralter, but in 13 years of monitoring this forum, I don't believe I've seen anyone recommend it unless it is simply to check a box. I could be wrong.

There are MANY places between Andalusia and Lisbon that are worth a stop. Have you consulted a good guidebook?

No Gibraltar is not worth it IMO.

"I haven't been to Gibralter, but in 13 years of monitoring this forum, I don't believe I've seen anyone recommend it unless it is simply to check a box. I could be wrong."

I'm surprised, but let me be the first one to recommend Gibraltar. It's absolutely worth a day.

First of all, you can't compare it to the great cities of Andalusia(Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada). In terms of art and architecture there's nothing to see in Gibraltar.

It is however one of the most iconic geographical features of world history and the location combined with the history is amazing. A little piece of Britain on the Med, crossing the border by walking across the runway of the airport is cool, hiking up the rock via the Mediterranean Steps is really an amazing short hike with tremendous views, than meeting the semi-wild apes on the top of the rock is tons of fun.